Grades 2–12 and Adults
Intensive • Tier 3
Achieving Literacy for Life | Wilson Reading System®
An intensive program for students and adults with
dyslexia or a language-based learning disability
Intensive Re
An intensive intervention for students in grades 2-12 and adults who are not
making sufficient progress in intervention or who may require more intensive
instruction due to a language-based learning disability
Based on reading research and Orton-Gillingham multisensory
philosophy and principles
Directly teaches the structure of the language, focusing first on
basic word skills and then on more complex language structure,
including morphological principles
Extensive instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency,
vocabulary, and comprehension
Wilson Reading System® (WRS) Implementation
• Taught3-5timesperweekfor60-90minutesin1:1orasmallgroup(upto6students).
• Takesupto2-3yearstocompletetheentire12-stepcurriculum,dependingonthefrequency
and intensity of delivery.
• Taughtinpublicandprivateelementary,middle,andhighschools;specialeducationclasses;
resource rooms; literacy centers; adult education settings; and other small-group and 1:1 settings.
• Taughtby(orunderthedirectguidanceof )aWRS-certifiedinstructor.
Wilson Reading System can be part of a multi-tiered literacy solution which also includes: Fundations®,
aphonicsandspellingprogramforgradesK-3,andJustWords®,aword-levelinterventionprogramfor
grades 4-12 and adults.
WRS Instructional Goals
ACCURACY &
AUTOMATICITY
Develop accurate and
speedy word recognition
FLUENCY
Develop independent
reading of connected text
with ease, expression, and
meaning
VOCABULARY &
COMPREHENSION
Develop vocabulary
background knowledge
and listening and reading
comprehension
emediation
Intensive Remediation
Program Highlights
• Offers a research-based program with twenty years of data
collected and analyzed from school districts implementing
the program.
• Follows a ten-part lesson plan that addresses decoding,
encoding, high frequency or sight word instruction, oral
reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension in a
sensible and logical fashion.
• Provides a systematic and cumulative approach to teach
total word structure for decoding and encoding.
Informational Webcast of Wilson Reading System in the Classroom
In this webcast, WRS author Barbara A. Wilson, M.Ed.,
describes the key principles of instruction and program
components, and explains how WRS is a comprehensive
multisensory structured program designed for students
in grades 2-12 who require intensive instruction due
to a language-based learning disability. It includes an
accompanying document for reference and note taking.
Duration: 35 minutes. (See an online introduction at
www.wilsonlanguage.com/webcasts/)
Broadband connection recommended
• Aids teachers by making all instruction multisensory and
interactive.
• Uses a unique “sound tapping” system used early in the program to help students segment and
blend sounds.
• Has one of the most extensive collections of controlled and decodable text (wordlists, sentences, stories)
for students beyond the primary grades.
• Provides two levels of vocabulary, one appropriate for elementary students, ELL students, and those with limited
vocabulary; the other for older students and adults with advanced vocabularies.
• Uses criterion-based assessments built into the program to measure student progress and success.
• Is a comprehensive program that can follow students from grade to grade.
Comprehensive Materials
The WRS Starter Kit provides the basic materials needed
to begin teaching the Wilson Reading System®, Steps
1-6. The WRS Deluxe and Standard Kits provide more
extensive materials.
Each student requires, at minimum, a Student Reader
for the WRS Step being studied, the Magnetic Journal
with Letter Tiles, and the Student Notebook.
To order materials online, visit:
www.wilsonlanguage.com/store
WRS Starter Kit
Professional Development and Teacher Support
Level I and Level II certification programs (requiring introductory workshops, online courses, student
practicum, and observations) are strongly recommended. Wilson teachers have online access to robust course
content, additional resources (such as animated demonstrations, printable teaching aids, and weekly paired
decodable/enriched text passages), and a discussion board and chat via the Intensive Learning Community
of Wilson Academy®. To help districts move toward sustainability, the WRS Trainer Development Program is
recommended.
To learn more about Wilson Professional Development, visit www.wilsonlanguage.com.
Schools and districts can contact the Client Relations team at 800.899.8454
to develop a comprehensive plan for success and sustainability.
Why the Wilson Reading System® Works
Direct, Highly Structured, and Cumulative
Students learn through straightforward, interactive instruction, addressing headon the concepts that govern the structure of written English. The 12 Steps of the
Wilson Reading System guide the student through the pitfalls of decoding and
encoding, teaching them to trust the English language as a reliable system from the
start. Each step builds on the one before it. Students work from sounds to syllables,
words to sentences, and paragraphs to stories, learning the structure of English
through constant repetition and review. Criterion-based assessments are built into
the program to track student progress.
Multisensory
Lessons are interactive in nature and are designed to fully engage students in
the task at hand. All skills and knowledge are reinforced through visual, auditory,
kinesthetic, and tactile senses. Students learn by listening to sounds; manipulating
color-coded sound, syllable, and word cards; using a unique “sound tapping” system,
which helps them segment and blend sounds; writing down spoken words; reading
aloud and repeating what they have read in their own words, as well as listening to
others read.
Comprehensive
WRS thoroughly teaches total word construction, not just phonics. All essential
components of reading instruction are addressed in each 10-part lesson: parts 1-5
emphasize word study, parts 6-8 emphasize spelling, and parts 9-10 emphasize
fluency and comprehension.
Integrated
The Wilson Reading System is organized around the six syllable types found in English,
with sounds taught only as they relate to the syllable being studied. Lessons cover only
those concepts being taught, with prior lessons being reinforced. Similarly, all Wilson
materials and texts are phonetically controlled, containing wordlists, sentences, and
paragraphs that incorporate only the elements of word structure taught in or up to
the corresponding lesson.
Research-based
More than 20 years of publications, studies, reviews, and data analysis by top reading
researchers and by school districts implementing the program confirms that the
Wilson Reading System provides the essential components and type of instruction
necessary to get results. Evidence of effectiveness is listed at www.wilsonlanguage.com.
Learn more about the Wilson Reading System® program at www.wilsonlanguage.com
47 OLD WEBSTER ROAD | OXFORD, MA 01540 | 508-368-2399 | 800-899-8454 (USA ONLY)
© 2012 WILSON LANGUAGE TRAINING CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. (L002_101212)
www.wilsonlanguage.com